Psalms, Prayers, Poems, Ponderings (but mainly psalms)

In Memoriam

[Rebecca’s challenge was to write a poem using current news as inspiration. James Cone, an African-American theologian, often called the Father of Black Liberation Theology, died on Saturday, April 28, 2018.]

“Christ hung from every lynching tree.”

Emmett Till’s open coffin

revealed Jesus Christ.

“The oppressed are the Christian community.”

Rosa Parks sat next to Jesus.

“The scandal is that the gospel means liberation.”

Christ died from the bullet that

killed Medgar Evers.

“A powerful liberating presence among the poor.”

Jesus Christ’s body was blown

apart by a bomb at the

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

“America has never intended for blacks to be free.”

Jesus, known as

Rev. Bruce Klunder,

died under a bulldozer.

“I have one right: That of demanding human behavior from the other.”

A Mississippi

earthen dam hid

the bodies of Christ

and three young men.

“I have one duty: That of not renouncing my freedom through my choices.”

Viola Liuzzo

died when

a Klansman

shot

Jesus Christ.

“The lynching tree…should have a prominent place in American images of Jesus’ death.”

Alabama

troopers

shot

Jimmie Jackson

and Jesus died.

“Black Power is…an inward affirmation of the essential worth of blackness.”